Assured of playing only one game in the MVC's post-season . . . tournament, SIU's season could be four-fifths completed following Monday night's 89-84 overtime win at Drake. The Salukis, however, are beginning to feel somewhat better about themselves after having won three of their last four games and improving their season's record to 13-11 (7-6). Nevertheless, SIU's next two games -- at Illinois State Wednesday night and at Northern Iowa Saturday (1:05 p.m.) -- are key encounters and even winning one of the two would be extremely helpful to the Salukis' in final league standings.

Among the five regular-season opponents yet to face, the . . . Salukis already own victories over four of them, although admittedly two -- Northern Iowa and Indiana State -- of the wins came in the friendly confines of the SIU Arena where Coach Weber's club has won nine of 12 games this season. And, both of those MVC opponents will be looking to even the score against the Salukis on their home courts in the next two weeks.

SIU's latest win may have been as big as any the Salukis . . . have registered this season as it provided an emotional lift at the start of the most difficult week of the season for Coach Bruce Weber's club. And, the fact that it was gained in the manner it was -- in overtime -- may have been even more beneficial than had the Salukis won more easily. Incredibly, there were 31 lead exchanges in the game before SIU gained a 79-77 lead early in the overtime session and never trailed thereafter. Nevertheless, the score was tied two more times before Kent Williams' 10-point spree in the five-minute period paved the way to the final outcome.